Madam Shen trembled upon seeing the cold-faced man, utterly cowed.
A mere glance from him made her scalp tingle and her hair stand on end.
Her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed.
All of this stemmed from the palpable killing intent radiating from him.
The intense aura seemed to freeze her from over ten meters away.
Even without martial arts training, Madam Shen felt a chilling, bone-penetrating hostility, as if she could be frozen at any moment or struck with a full-force blow.
Despite the distance, she felt no safety, only the sense that he could appear before her at any instant and deliver a fatal strike.
She took a deep, steadying breath, exhaling slowly, attempting to suppress her fear.
But the method that always worked before seemed ineffective now.
She was like a beached fish, struggling to breathe, let alone overcome her terror by regulating her breath.
Meanwhile, Mo Ling, standing guard before her, wore an equally grave expression.
The intelligence was accurate.
The assassination had arrived.
The man before them was Sheng Xiong!
His imposing presence immediately declared him a formidable opponent.
He was the very Sheng Xiong who had founded the Haining Gang.
The Haining Gang had now risen to become one of the major factions in China, boasting not only potent individual martial prowess but also a vast number of disciples and immense influence.
Mo Ling stared at him with cold eyes.
Sheng Xiong, a traitor to the Security Department, truly possessed strength.
However, in recent times, Song Qiao had provided her with targeted guidance, leading to a significant enhancement in her abilities.
Consequently, she felt no fear of him; instead, a fighting spirit surged within her.
Yet, she forcefully suppressed the urge to engage, maintaining a facade of tension.
Feigning weakness.
Her eyes narrowed as she fixed her gaze on the man.
Simultaneously, she kept a grip on Madam Shen, shielding her with her body to prevent her from falling or being exposed to Sheng Xiong's attack.
She began to move slowly with Madam Shen, searching for an opening to exploit for a future offensive.
Even from his posture and the aura he exuded, she recognized the depth of his power.
However, she also understood that this display was a calculated move, designed to intimidate her, diminish her fighting capacity, and perhaps even deter her from resisting.
Beneath her feet, the grass rustled softly.
Aside from that, only Madam Shen's increasingly labored breathing and the hushed whispers of wind through the trees could be heard.
Of course, her actions were also a tactic to buy time, familiarize herself with the terrain, assess her opponent, and strategize her response.
Sheng Xiong's expression remained calm, a faint, knowing smile on his lips, his eyes tracking Mo Ling's movements.
"I know your purpose, but I advise you not to act rashly. Hand over this woman quickly, and I can spare your life!"
"Heh heh, your strengths and weaknesses are crystal clear to me. You also have to divide your attention protecting this woman, meaning you can't unleash your full power, perhaps only eighty percent. So, how do you expect to fight me?"
Sheng Xiong's words made Madam Shen's face pale further.
This was it!
Mo Ling's expression remained unchanged. "The Security Department indeed has traitors! But do you truly believe you understand me?"
If not, her information wouldn't be so thoroughly known to him.
Sheng Xiong sneered. "Mo Ling, I know you must have a trump card. But do you really think your trump card will be effective?"
"Heh heh, your subordinates are no match. My men were taken down before they could even act, simpler than slaughtering chickens."
Mo Ling remained unfazed.
She understood that he was still attempting to undermine her confidence.
His implication was that his subordinates were present, while Mo Ling's were all gone.
She had no recourse but to surrender.
"So much nonsense. The victor is yet to be decided!" Mo Ling stated coldly.
Sheng Xiong, however, responded with disdain. "The Security Department wants to protect this woman, yet they send only dregs like you. Either they underestimate me too much, or they overestimate you."
"You really think of yourself as someone important." Mo Ling gave Sheng Xiong a dismissive up-and-down glance.
Sheng Xiong felt a flicker of annoyance. This woman was truly stubborn.
He let out a breath, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'll give you one last chance. Hand this woman over to me, and I'll spare your life!"
He then stood with his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly to gaze skyward, exuding an aura of supreme confidence.
Madam Shen's body weakened, and she began to slide from Mo Ling's grasp, trying to break free.
She knew her fate hung precariously in the balance.
Her life depended on the woman before her; if she had any ill intentions, Madam Shen would be handed over to be slaughtered.
Mo Ling watched Sheng Xiong intently, guarding against a sudden attack.
At the same time, she tightened her grip, supporting Madam Shen, and slightly turned her head, speaking to reassure her, "Don't worry. As long as I am here, no one can harm you!"
Madam Shen, hearing the unwavering resolve in Mo Ling's voice, knew she wouldn't be easily surrendered and finally felt a measure of relief.
She then directed a hateful gaze at Sheng Xiong and rebuked him, "Sheng Xiong, you've betrayed national interests for your own selfish gain. Today, I will deal with you and deliver the punishment you deserve!"
Sheng Xiong's gaze was cold, as if looking at someone beyond redemption.
"Little one, such bold words. Don't speak of national interests. You are a frog in a well, utterly ignorant of the inner workings, unaware of how rotten the Security Department's system has become..."
"No need for more nonsense. I will kill you today and cleanse the Security Department of scum!" Mo Ling interrupted before he could finish.
Though young, Mo Ling understood that certain matters within the Security Department were not meant for her ears.
Even though only the three of them were present, she had spoken up to cut him off.
As she spoke, an intense fighting spirit radiated from her.
Sheng Xiong, however, perceived something in Mo Ling's reaction and continued his previous line of thought.
"Not to mention, with your ignorant, muddled minds, you can't see the deeper issues. Heh heh, to put it bluntly, you can't even grasp the obvious. Bah! A bunch of self-righteous fools, muddleheads!"
Though Mo Ling did not wish to hear his words, she couldn't prevent them from reaching her ears.
She shook her head slightly, her gaze flickering.
Sheng Xiong's expression shifted.
He knew her mind was starting to waver.
Just then, a gust of wind swept through, stirring up grass and dust, which snaked like a dragon.
It billowed Mo Ling's robes and hair, causing her eyes to narrow.
More importantly, the flying grass and dust obscured the opponent's vision.
An opportunity!
He surged forward, his feet propelling him with immense force. His body moved like lightning, instantly covering over ten meters and appearing before Mo Ling with an unavoidable swiftness.